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Youth Programs

Mentor program creates a strong bond between Sullivan Apartments and Boland School

Mentor program creates a strong bond between Sullivan Apartments and Boland School

The partnership between 12-year-old Leeshaynet Velazquez and her mentor, Ingrid Solano, is the story of friendship, support, and love.

Leeshaynet, who lives at Springfield Housing Authority’s John L. Sullivan Apartments, and Solano, an executive administrative assistant in the Springfield School Department, meet every Tuesday at Edward P. Boland Elementary School.

Leeshaynet is a fifth-grader at Boland, and has been meeting with her mentor for the past two years. It’s a relationship she hopes will continue into middle school, and beyond.

“Right away, it was good. We just liked each other, and we could talk about things that were happening in our lives,” explained Leeshaynet. “We’re friends.”

Mentor Ingrid Solano with her mentee, Leeshaynet Velazquez, 12, and Edward P. Boland Elementary School.

Mentor Ingrid Solano with her mentee, Leeshaynet Velazquez, 12, at Edward P. Boland Elementary School.

Solano feels exactly the same way, and like Leeshaynet, looks forward to their lunchtime sessions.

“It’s been great,” said Solano, who works in School Department’s finance office. “I love it. We talk about anything and everything. I always ask her how school is going, and if there’s anything going on that she wants to talk about.”

The partnership comes courtesy of Springfield School Volunteers, which matches up students and caring adults at schools across the city. The goals of boosting classroom achievement, reducing absenteeism and ensuring eventual graduation are at play with Leeshaynet, who was identified by officials as a child who would blossom with a mentor.

“We thought that she would benefit from a positive and dedicated adult in her life,” explained Boland Principal Lisa Bakowski. “I do think it’s made a difference. We’re seeing the soft side of Leeshaynet. She has someone who talks to her regularly about her life, what she’s been up to.”

Indeed, Leeshaynet loves the conversations she has, and the time she spends, with Solano. They usually catch up on their weekends, talk about school and work, and of course, family life. Leeshaynet is the older of the two daughters of Luis Velazquez and Joselyn Collazo.

“I like how she cares about me,” Leeshaynet said of her mentor. “I like how she worries about me. She’s like a best friend. I feel like I can tell her anything.”

LeeshVelazquez, 12, with her mentor Ingrid Solano, at Edward P. Boland Elementary School.

Leeshaynet Velazquez, 12, with her mentor Ingrid Solano, at Edward P. Boland Elementary School.

Solano thinks that part of the secret recipe of their relationship is that she herself is a young mother – she had her first daughter at age 19, and that was 16 years ago. She has since had another daughter, who is Leeshaynet’s age.

“I have two daughters. I get what she’s going through. Just knowing that I may be providing for her that one extra spark to become successful, that’s what I love about this,” Solano said.

Both agree that they miss each other’s company over summer vacation, and always look forward to the start of a school year when they can rekindle and catch up.

This September, Leeshaynet is heading off to Chestnut Accelerated Middle School, where she and Solano will continue to meet. Education and academic achievement are key components of their visits, and Leeshaynet loves to talk about her plans for college. She may study journalism, or criminal justice, or nursing, or photography.

She gets advice on that from Solano, who is nearly done earning a bachelor’s degree in human services at Springfield College.

Solano said the rewards she gets from the relationship are many.

“She makes me feel like I have a purpose,” Solano explained. “It’s the joy of spending time with her, and just knowing that in some way, I’m helping her.”

Solano was inspired to become a mentor when her former boss, School Department Chief of Parent and Community Engagement Patricia Spradley spoke glowingly of her own mentorship. She signed up through the SSV office and was quickly matched up with Leeshaynet.

Both the Springfield Housing Authority and the School Department give paid time off to employees who mentor in the school system in Springfield

To become a mentor, contact the SSV office at 413-787-7015.

3614 days ago / Youth Programs
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